Actress and activist Rosario Dawson posed for a reimagining of Norman Rockwell’s “Freedom of Speech.” Credit: For Freedoms
The New York Times included DPI alumni photographer Emily Shur ('98) and artist Hank Willis Thomas ('98) in a recent article examining the resurgence of Norman Rockwell's series of paintings depicting American civic life, "Four Freedoms," on the occassion of its 75th Anniversary. Emily and Hank joined forces to recreate a series of paintings by the popular 20th century American painter depicting "Freedom of Speech," "Freedom of Worship," "Freedom from Want," and "Freedom from Fear" with new, contemporary subjects. From the October 8, 2018 article by Laura M. Holson:
Mr. Thomas, a founder of For Freedoms, which produces exhibitions, public art and a billboard campaign to spur civic activism, said he first approached Ms. Shur about creating the photographic series in 2017. But even so, finding a cast of diverse subjects was fraught. “What does a Muslim look like?” Mr. Thomas asked. “What does a Jew look like? We were worried about tokenism.”
The project came together in early 2018... That weekend a parade of people streamed through the front doors to be photographed for recreations of Mr. Rockwell’s “Freedom of Speech” and “Freedom of Worship.” The actress Rosario Dawson showed up. So, too, did the rapper Chuck D, a founder of Public Enemy. Mr. Thomas said Gina Belafonte, the daughter of the actor and activist Harry Belafonte, came with a group of ecumenical leaders. Even Dolores Huerta, a co-founder of the United Farm Workers with activist Cesar Chavez, stopped by. By the end of the weekend, more than 150 people had been photographed, Mr. Thomas said. They became the underpinnings for the final photographic compilations.
“All of these people have their own communities,” he said of those photographed. “Everyone wants to be a good person. The demonizing of people doesn’t help.”